With his team on the verge of becoming, literally, the worst team in NBA history, Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is an easy target these days. And coaches who have worked under him in Charlotte seem to be lining up to take their shots.

Sam Vincent, who coached the Bobcats in the 2007-08 season, recently questioned Jordan’s work ethic, only to backtrack on those remarks more than week later with the standard, “my answers were used out of context” clarification.

Larry Brown, who coached the team for two-and-a-half seasons beginning in 2008-09, is the next to tee off on his former boss.

Brown’s diatribe echoes sentiments often expressed about Jordan: that he surrounds himself with yes-men, those reluctant to challenge his decisions and authority, to the detriment of the organization.

But Jordan, who rarely offers public comments, told Bonnell, “It’s absolutely wrong that I don’t want guys to challenge me. And the people who say that aren’t in the room.

"That people can’t do that is just wrong. Curtis (Polk, team vice chairman) has worked with me for over 20 years and he’s never had a problem telling me, ‘no.’ Rod has no problem telling me no. Fred (Whitfield, team president) has no problem telling me ‘no.’ And Rich (Cho, the team’s general manager) is about as direct and candid a person as you’ll ever meet.’’

Jordan added of Brown, “He had a lot of input on whatever we did. I never sidestepped him in making a decision.''

The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, examined 10 NBA Hall of Famers who went on to become team executives and concluded, “Jordan's struggles in the front office aren't unique. He joins a long list of ex-NBA superstars who were somewhat less-stellar executives. ... Only three have cumulative records above .500 in their management roles.”